Hi All,

I have a strong smell of petrol in the car, I have checked fuel pipes under the bonnet and under the car, cannot see fuel dripping, is there anything I have missed or needs checking. Oh the car is a my01 bugeye wrx...
Thanks in advance
2scoobs

 

seal on top of fuel tank lid under back seat perhaps

 

Wasssuppp! Sounds like a fuel leak for sure.

 

Thanks for the replys chaps, but the smell is coming from the front of the car, when i put the heater on it gets even stronger. I popped my head under the bonnet again today and there was a really strong smell of fuel. I will have a look at the fuel tank under the back seats though.
2scoobs

 

Feel around the injectors in case any are starting to leak - either through the electrical connector part ( if injector failed internally! ) of at the mounting.

Also see if the rubber fuel hoses are perished.

How long since the fuel filter was changed?

 

Weak regulator causing higher pressure at injectors cause a leak?

 

I meant more like a bkoken injector .. you've not changed them recently i guess?

A fuel pressure regulator should be on the return line ( to tank ) so if it was getting weaker I guess it would mean LESS fuel pressure in the fuel rails and less chance of leaks being caused.

 

Actually there is a TSB 09-36-03

Subaru should fix this for you

here is is in black and white!

 

Looks good!

 

Thanks for the reply's guys I have booked it in with my local mechanic on tuesday morning so I will pass this useful information onto him..
Since i have owned the car the fuel filter has been changed once but to be honest it does not do many miles, as for the injectors they are all dry no sign of fuel around them.
many thanks james (2scoobs)

 

I have the same car (MY01) and mine has started with the same fault.

Strong smell of unburnt petrol inside the car and also outside.

Is there a definitive answer to this?

Is it a common fault on this model?

Will I ever get laid?

Thanks for any help.

Ted.

 

Anyone?

 

Can't really suggest anything on the rest, but on the

question,

I would have to say you really need to have some strong words with your missus

 

Thanks a lot to BVM for the Subaru Service Bulletin.

I have been trying to get to the bottom of this enigma for nearly two years on my Bugeye MY2001 WRX - petrol smell, which can be overpowering occasionally happens in cold and usually dampish weather - but not always! Dealer has looked but said they cannot trace anything or establish cause. I have printed off this Subaru instruction and will take it in when car is on for service next Friday, and see what they say or possibly might do for me.

 

I had fuel smell in car for ages and turned out to be the seal on the fuel pump.Quite common im told.

 

[quote=BVM]Actually there is a TSB 09-36-03

Subaru should fix this for you

here is is in black and white!

[Hi I have exactly this problem and I want to chase up Subaru to find out if my bugeye has had this fix carried out. I can't find any detail of TSB 09-36-03, can anybody send me some info, particularly something official,

Cheers ]

 

Just to conquer on the Fuel pump / fuel tank seal dodgy seal, mine stunk to high heaven when fully topped up. At my service yesterday, Subaru changed the seal under the rear seat on tank- its fine now

 

Had thesame problem a week ago.

REALLY bad when the car is cold, not so bad when engine is hot.

Turned out to be a blown gasket between the turbo and uppipe.

Had it replaced and no more smell

 

I drove my 2001 WRX a short distance in -8 temp yesterday morning and the stink of petrol was overwhelming in the car and when we raised the bonnet. I called the RAC who couldn't find any obvious leak and then had the car recovered the 120 miles home to be safe. It is in the local garage now. Any advice I can pass to the mechanic??? Is this common? Has a pipe perished or cracked in the cold????

 

Hi All

Just to add to the list. I had the same problem went to the shops yesturday morning around 11am, 1 mile there no smell, all was fine until I was driving back up my street and all of sudden really strong smell of petrol coming from the heater which was on. Had a quick look when I stopped and had turned the engine off, no smell outside, faint smell from around the engine under the bonnet. First time this has happened. Havent driven it since as I am working nights so will see if the same happens tonight. Would like to know the cause of this and any fix I need to do.

 

i have the same problem aswell again i cant seem to track it down

i will be watching this thread with interest

s

 

Ive got the same problem when its cold it stinks as it gets warm goes away has anyone got a real ideas to this fault ?

 

my bros bugeye wrx has just dveloped the same prob yesterday since the really cold spell? this si weird any fo the boffins out there have any suggestions? must get him to check the seals around the tank etc and under the bonnet

 

I carried out this SB on my 01 WRX a couple of weeks ago. Worked a treat, car has gone from smelling like a petrol station in cold weather to no smells at all.
Not too bad a job for a home mechanic. You'll also need a couple of inlet manifold gaskets and some coolant but it's only a steady days work if you take your time.

If you want to pay a garage it's 3-4 hours labour.

 

Cheers:

Will pass it on to the mechanic

 

daft question, but, the subject is dated jan 03 i dont suppose subaru would sort this FOC? leaking petrol issue should have had a recall??

s

 

Theres a large thread over on NASIOC where some of our American cousins there managed to get the job done under warranty.
I'd guess there's not much chance of that now on 6-7 year old cars

 

Andy, think my leak is from the same place as yours was. Could I ask how much the pipes and gaskets were please ?. Agree with you over the re-call, can`t believe they never did one.
Thanks,
Keith.

 

Keith,
Parts were as follows

1. 14035AA421 - Intake manifold gaskets x2 @ £5.98 each
2. 17544AA135 - Fuel pipe set x1 @ £46.81
3. 807707140 - Hose - rubber x1 at £15.02

The p/n listed on the TSB has been superseded by the number above.
All prices were plus VaT so about £85 all in. You'll need around 3 litres of coolant too.

Hope this helps, Andy

 

Andy,
Thanks for the detailed information, great help.
Keith.